The cottage

La Maison des Amis accommodates two to four people in comfort and privacy, a perfect hideaway for a family or a couple. It dates back to 1785, four years before the French Revolution, and displays many traditional features such as oak beams, tiled floors and external walls constructed from regional limestone rendered in the local style inside. The cottage nestles in a tranquil corner of the Loire Valley in between a productive orchard and open countryside. Its southerly aspect offers guests unlimited views of the surrounding panorama and uninterrupted sunlight throughout the day. In late summer, 20 vines in the cottage’s enclosed garden offer, in conjunction with the orchard, an abundance of organic apples, grapes and pears. La Maison des Amis is, all in all, a perfect location from which to explore France.

The local area

The local restaurant in Saint Hippolyte, La Rénaissance, opens daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is famous for its foie gras. Booking a table at the weekend is essential. The boulangerie in the centre of the village has everything one needs, from fresh bread and croissants to vegetables and wine. Nearby, excellent walking routes, equestrian schools, a golf course and fishing lakes provide scope for a range of activities. Nine kilometres up-river is the mediaeval town of Loches, which hosts a bustling market around Le Café des Arts twice each week and hosts a literary festival in the summer. Major châteaux and vineyards can be found within a 40km radius.